Swivel wheelbase for universal grinding machines



Feb. 6, 1962 R. E. PRICE 3,019,566

SWIVEL WI-IEELBASE FOR UNIVERSAL GRINDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 8, 1960 RALPH E. PRICE INVENTOR BM/m, m

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice as l Q56 6 Patented Feb. s, 1962 3,319,566 SWHVEL WTEELBASE FOR UNIVERSAL GRENDING MACHINES Ralph E. Price, Wayneshoro, Pa., assignor to Landis Tool iiompany, Waynesboro, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed w. 8, 1950, Ser. No. 1,207 6 Claims. (El. 51-166) The following specification relates to a novel swivel Wheelbase for universal grinding machines providing for accurately holding the wheel slide in axial position and at the same time permitting its angular adjustment with a minimum amount of effort:

It is frequently desired to adjust a grinding machine element such as a grinding wheel support angularly in a horizontal plane. The great weight of the wheel slide and the parts supported thereon results in much friction being generated on the sliding surfaces. Also, the mounting of the central hearing has been considered as offering a problem demanding special construction for the support of the wheel slide. To facilitate the angular adjustment, antifriction means is interposed between the center pivot and the wheel slide. The first cost i high and additional machining is required to mount the slide.

The present improved structure accomplishes the result with a reduction in the number of parts.

One of the objects of the invention is to support the wheel slide suitably and for easy angular adjustment about a fixed vertical axis.

A further object of the invention is to insure the wheel slide in axial position on the pivot without the possibility of lateral play.

A still further object of the invention is to support the wheel slide directly upon pro-loaded resilient means which will eliminate a major portion of the friction between the co-acting surfaces of the adjacent sliding parts.

Other incidental objects of the invention will be readily understood from the following description of the preferred form of the invention as illustrated by the drawing in which the figure shows a side elevation partly in vertical section.

Essentially the invention resides in the mounting of a horizontally sliding wheel slide directly upon a center pivot around which it can be adjusted angularly. The mounting of the slide is directly upon the pivot so that there is no intervening antifriction member subject to stress or wear. The wheel slide itself is provided with a broad bearing surface on its underside. This rests upon a series of springs which are preloaded by the vertical adjustment of the pivot which sustains these springs. Thus the weight of the wheel slide and associated parts during angular positioning is mainly supported on the center pivot and the friction of the sliding surfaces of wheel slide and bed is greatly reduced.

On the drawing I have shown a bed 3 which is stationary upon any suitable foundation. A wheel slide 4 is slidably supported upon the upper surface of the bed 3. A wheelbase 5 is mounted in turn in guide ways 6 and 7 on the wheel slide 4. The wheelbase is thus adapted for horizontal reciprocating movement relative to the wheel slide 4. An adjustable feed shaft 8 is vertically journalled on the wheelbase 5 in well known manner. This shaft 8 terminates at the bottom in a worm wheel 9 which is in engage ment with the worm 10. The worm 10 is journalled in the wheel slide 4. By adjustment of the feed shaft 8 or by the revolution of the worm 10, the wheelbase is advanced and retracted along the guide ways 6 and 7.

There are conditions, however, under which it is desired to shift the wheel slide 4 angularly so that the direction of feed of the wheelbase 5 will be changed. When this happens, it is necessary to loosen the anchor bolts 11 which run vertically through the wheel slide 4 and are held in the T-slots 12 in bed 3. With the loosening of these bolts the wheel slide 4 may then be moved over the top sliding surface of the bed 3. To confine this sliding move ment to an angular or circular path, the bed 3 is provided with an upstanding pivot 13 which is mounted in bed 3. The pivot 13 is vertically adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 14 and the latter is locked into position by means of the locknut 15.

The pivot 13 has a reduced upper part 16 with an intermediate shoulder 17.

The bottom of the wheel slide 4 is provided with a bore 18 in which pivot portion 16 fits closely but slidably. At the lower end of bore 18 is a bearing pad 19 on the underside of slide 4.

A series of Belleville springs 20 rest upon the shoulder 17 at their inner edges. The outer upturned edges engage the bearing pad 19.

The Belleville springs are sufiicient in number and strength to support a material part of the weight of the wheel slide 4 and superposed parts when the bolts 11 are loosened. The degree to which the springs are compressed and the lifting power established, is controlled by vertical adjustment of the pivot 13 by means of the adjusting screw 14.

It will be apparent from the above description that when the T-bolts 11 are loosened, the resilience of the springs 20 will materially reduce the friction between the wheel slide 4 and the bed 3. This is accomplished by the support of the bearing pad 19 by the shoulder 17 of the pivot 13 through the springs 20.

The extended slidable contact between the reduced por tion 16 and the bore 18 avoids the necessity of providing intervening antifriction means. Locating the bearing pad 19 on the bottom of the wheel slide 4 accomplishes the support without the need of intermediate supporting members other than springs 20.

With the weight to a large extent supported by the springs 20, the wheel slide 4 may be given an angular adjustment after which the bolts 11 are tightened. This fastens the wheel slide 4 to the bed 3, while the: springs 20 are compressed accordingly.

The invention has been described and illustrated by way of example in the preferred form. However, minor changes in material, proportions and design may be carried out within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A mounting for a grinding machine element com prising a fixed bed, a grinding wheel slide and a wheelbase reciprocally carried by the Wheel slide, a pivot mount ed on the bed, said pivot having a shoulder and a reduced upper part, a bore in the wheel slide for slidably and rotatably fitting the upper part of the pivot, and resilient means directly supporting the wheel slide on the shoulder of the pivot.

2. A mounting for a grinding machine element comprising a fixed bed, a grinding wheel slide and a wheelbase reciprocally carried by the wheel slide, a pivot mounted on the bed, said pivot having a shoulder and a reduced upper part, a bore in the wheel slide for slidably and rotatably fitting the pivot, said bore passing through a pad on the bottom of said slide and resilient means directly supporting the said wheel slide on the shoulder of the pivot.

3. A mounting for a grinding machine element comprising a fixed bed, a grinding wheel slide and a wheelbase reciprocally carried by the wheel slide, a pivot mounted on the bed, said pivot having a shoulder and a reduced upper part, a bore in the wheel slide for slidably and rotatably fitting the upper part of the pivot, and Belleville springs directly supporting the wheel slide on the shoulder of the pivot.

4. A mounting for a grinding machine element comprising a fixed bed, a grinding wheel slide and a wheelbase reciprocally carried by the Wheel slide, a pivot mounted on the bed, said pivot having a shoulder and a reduced upper part, a bore in the wheel slide for slidably and rotatably fitting the upper part of the pivot, Belleville springs directly supporting the wheel slide on the shoulder of the pivot and means for clamping the slide on the bed against the resilience of the springs.

5. A mounting for a grinding machine element comprising a fixed bed, a grinding wheel slide and a wheelbase reciprocally carried by the wheel slide, a pivot mounted on the bed, said pivot having a shoulder and a reduced upper part, a bore in the wheel slide for slidably and rotatably fitting the upper part of the pivot, resilient means directly supporting the wheel slide on the shoulder of the pivot and means for adjustably supporting the pivot in the bed against the force of the resilient means.

6. In a grinding machine, a mounting for a grinding wheel support comprising a bed, a slide member mounted for angular adjustment on said bed, a grinding wheel base slidably mounted on said slide member, clamping means for clamping said slide member to said bed, a pivot member on the bed journaled within said slide and determining the axis about which said slide member is adjusted, said pivot member being mounted for vertical adjustment, a shoulder portion on said pivot member, a plurality of Belleville springs on said shoulder portion, the outer portions of said springs engaging the underside of said slide member, said pivot member being normally vertically adjusted so as to compress said springs when said slide member is clamped to said bed with suflicient force to raise said slide member from said bed when said clamps are released, said springs providing the sole support of said slide member during its angular adjustment when raised from the bed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Indge Mar. 1, 1938 2,615,288 Klay et al. Oct. 28, 1952 

